Vavae Malepeai
Running back Markese Stepp #30 of the USC Trojans runs for touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the first half of the PAC 12 Championship football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Friday, December 18, 2020 in Los Angeles on Friday, December 18, 2020. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
RB Markese Stepp lands at Nebraska after transfer from USC

Jan. 12, 2021 04:06 PM EST

Oregon coach Mario Cristobal gestures during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against California in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
No. 13 USC faces daunting Oregon Ducks in Pac-12 title game

By Greg Beacham Dec. 17, 2020 04:57 PM EST

Running back Vavae Malepeai #29 of the USC Trojans runs for yardage against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, December 12, 2020. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
No. 13 USC faces defending champ Oregon in Pac-12 title game

By The Associated Press Dec. 17, 2020 04:06 PM EST

Southern California running back Vavae Malepeai, center, runs the ball during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Dec 12, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
No. 13 USC RB Malepeai unlikely to play in Pac-12 title game

By Greg Beacham Dec. 16, 2020 06:48 PM EST

Southern California running back Vavae Malepeai celebrates a touchdown against UCLA during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
No. 13 USC rolls with unpredictable Pac-12 title week

By Greg Beacham Dec. 14, 2020 03:44 PM EST

UCLA running back Demetric Felton, right, runs for a first down as Southern California's Olaijah Griffin defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
UCLA Bruins at USC Trojans 12/13/2020

Dec. 12, 2020 11:47 PM EST

Southern California players, including Drake Jackson (99), celebrate a win over UCLA in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Slovis throws 5 touchdowns, No. 16 USC rallies to beat UCLA

By Joe Reedy Dec. 12, 2020 11:42 PM EST

Southern California safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, right, intercepts a pass thrown by UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, left, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
USC at UCLA 12/12/2020

Dec. 12, 2020 09:35 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Washington State running back Max Borghi (21) carries the ball while pursued by Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pullman, Wash. Washington State could get a game-changing addition to its lineup if Borghi is able to make his season debut. The junior is coming off a season in which he rushed for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching a team-high 86 passes for 597 yards and five more TDs. He missed the Cougars' first two games of this season with an undisclosed injury, but he returned to practice this week. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)
No. 17 USC gets back to work with Sunday visit from Wash St

By Greg Beacham Dec. 03, 2020 06:51 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising looks for a receiver during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Slovis, dominant defense power No. 20 USC past Utah 33-17

Nov. 22, 2020 02:20 AM EST

BYU running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against North Alabama defensive lineman Charlie Ryan (92) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Jeff Swinger, Pool)
USC at Utah 11/21/2020

Nov. 21, 2020 06:23 PM EST

Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell (17) throws downfield against Southern California in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
No. 20 USC rallies again to beat Arizona 34-30 on late TD

Nov. 14, 2020 07:38 PM EST

Southern California quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) throws over Arizona linebacker Jalen Harris (49) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
California at Arizona State 11/14/2020

Nov. 14, 2020 05:31 PM EST

FILE - This Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, file photo shows Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrating with head coach Herm Edwards after an NCAA college football game win over Washington State, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won seven games and played in a bowl game in 2018, exceeding outside expectations in its first season under Edwards, the former NFL player, coach and commentator. The Sun Devils took another step last season, winning eight games and the Sun Bowl. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
No. 20 USC hosts Arizona State in early-morning Pac-12 start

By The Associated Press Nov. 05, 2020 05:50 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019 file photo, Southern California quarterback Kedon Slovis throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon in Los Angeles. Slovis returns s quarterback for his sophomore season in November. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Loaded No. 21 USC grateful to be in Pac-12 title chase

By Greg Beacham Oct. 28, 2020 01:11 PM EDT

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta (84) runs with the ball while defended by Southern California cornerback Greg Johnson (9) during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
Smith-Marsette has 3 TDs, Iowa beats USC in Holiday Bowl

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 27, 2019 11:56 PM EST

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard (30) is caught by Texas A&M defensive back Leon O'Neal Jr. (9) during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
No. 19 Iowa beats No. 22 USC 49-24 in Holiday Bowl

By The Associated Press Dec. 27, 2019 07:27 PM EST

Southern California head coach Clay Helton, left, smiles at quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) after a 52-35 win over UCLA in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Slovis throws for record 515 yards, USC holds off UCLA 52-35

By Greg Beacham Nov. 23, 2019 07:30 PM EST

Southern California running back Kenan Christon (23) scores a rushing touchdown past Arizona cornerback McKenzie Barnes (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Depleted USC turns to RB Kenan Christon after electric debut

By Dan Greenspan Oct. 22, 2019 04:02 PM EDT

Southern California running back Markese Stepp flexes his bicep after scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
USC RB Stepp needs ankle surgery, out up to 5 weeks

Oct. 21, 2019 10:25 PM EDT